Klay Thompson: 'If they’re going to land in front of where they started, it's on the offensive player'

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Golden State Warriors’ Andre Iguodala (9) forces a jump ball after blocking Houston Rockets’ James Harden (13) while driving to the basket during the fourth quarter of Game 1 of their NBA second round playoff series at Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif. on Sunday, April 28, 2019. The Golden State Warriors defeated the Houston Rockets 104-100. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)

Houston Rockets’ James Harden (13) drives to the basket against Golden State Warriors’ Kevin Durant (35) in the first quarter of Game 1 of an NBA second round playoff series at Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif., on Sunday, April 28, 2019. (Anda Chu/Bay Area News Group)

Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Curry (30) drives to the basket against Houston Rockets’ Clint Capela (15), Danuel House Jr. (4) and James Harden (13) in the third quarter of Game 1 of an NBA second round playoff series at Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif., on Sunday, April 28, 2019. Warriors beat the Rockets 104-100. (Anda Chu/Bay Area News Group)

Golden State Warriors’ Kevin Durant (35) shoots a jumper against Houston Rockets’ Gerald Green (14) and Iman Shumpert (1) in the third quarter of Game 1 of an NBA second round playoff series at Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif., on Sunday, April 28, 2019. (Anda Chu/Bay Area News Group)

Houston Rockets’ P.J. Tucker (17) reaches between the legs of Golden State Warriors’ Draymond Green (23) for a loose ball during the fourth quarter of Game 1 of their NBA second round playoff series at Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif. on Sunday, April 28, 2019. The Golden State Warriors defeated the Houston Rockets 104-100. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)

OAKLAND, CA – APRIL 28: Golden State Warriors’ Klay Thompson (11) slides to grab a loose ball against Houston Rockets’ Eric Gordon (10) in the fourth quarter of Game 1 of an NBA second round playoff series at Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif., on Sunday, April 28, 2019. Warriors beat the Rockets 104-100. (Anda Chu/Bay Area News Group)

Golden State Warriors’ Andre Iguodala (9) goes up for a basket against Houston Rockets’ Clint Capela (15) during the first half of Game 1 of their NBA second round playoff series at Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif. on Sunday, April 28, 2019. The Golden State Warriors defeated the Houston Rockets 104-100. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)

Golden State Warriors’ Klay Thompson (11) reacts while attempting to block a layup by Houston Rockets’ James Harden (13) during the fourth quarter of Game 1 of their NBA second round playoff series at Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif. on Sunday, April 28, 2019. Thompson would be called for a foul during the play. The Golden State Warriors defeated the Houston Rockets 104-100. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)

Houston Rockets’ James Harden (13) falls to the ground after a failed fadeaway basket against the Golden State Warriors during the fourth quarter of Game 1 of their NBA second round playoff series at Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif. on Sunday, April 28, 2019. The Golden State Warriors defeated the Houston Rockets 104-100. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)

Golden State Warriors’ Klay Thompson (11) guards Houston Rockets’ Clint Capela (15) during the first half of Game 1 of their NBA second round playoff series at Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif. on Sunday, April 28, 2019. The Golden State Warriors defeated the Houston Rockets 104-100. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)

Rockets guard James Harden will watch his attempted 3-pointers against Klay Thompson and believe he planted his foot out underneath him. The Warriors experienced that two years ago when former Spurs forward Kawhi Leonard sustained a season-ending left ankle injury in the Western Conference Finals after he landed on the foot of former Warriors center Zaza Pachulia.

“I just want a fair chance, man. Call the game how it’s supposed to be called and that’s it. And I’ll live with the results,” Harden said. “We all know what happened a few years back with Kawhi. That can change the entire series. Just call the game the way it’s supposed to be called and we’ll live with the results. It’s plain and simple.”

Thompson will watch his defense against Harden and believe he simply performed his job. Thompson did not reach. He held out his hands up high. And even if the replays below show contact, Thompson will argue Harden encroached on his space, not the other way around.

“If they’re going to land in front of where they started, it’s on the offensive player,” Thompson said. “As a defender, you have to stay in your spot, go stay up and stay down and stay in your spot to the best of your ability and not try to drift into your body. I probably did a good job of that going straight up and straight down.”

The Rockets strongly felt otherwise. Houston coach Mike D’Antoni said that officials told him at halftime that they missed four calls on Harden’s 3-point attempts that should have resulted in 12 free-throws. Harden estimated there “was probably a couple more in the second half.”

In Harden’s mind, one of those examples happened toward the end of the game. He pulled up for a 30-foot jump shot that could have tied the game at 103 with 9.1 seconds left. Just as he missed, Harden landed near Draymond Green’s feet. But the replays show that Harden had leaned toward Green and flailed his legs out. All of which diminished the space that Green had afforded Harden.

How do you get from here at the release to here and complain about landing area? The hell outta here with this. pic.twitter.com/VtBM0Ms8zC

“I’m going to contest his shot. Gotta contest the shot,” Green said. “When you land three feet ahead of where you shoot the ball from, that really ain’t my issue.”

And to think, the NBA created this rule to protect shooters. Jalen Rose, Bruce Bowen and Dahntay Jones had often planted their feet underneath shooters after they released the ball. That way, those players could then land on their foot and suffer an injury.

Following Pachulia’s closeout, though, the NBA outlined a rule that will allow officials to give flagrant or technical fouls on defenders who do not give shooters a space to land. The rulebook states that “a defensive player is not permitted to move into the path of an offensive player once he has started his upward motion to attempt a field goal or pass.” The rulebook also says that “a defensive player must allow an airborne player the opportunity to land and then avoid contact when the offensive player is outside the lower defensive box.”

Since then, though, Harden has frequently sought contact by flailing his legs forward to reduce the space given to him. So how can defenders give Harden an opportunity to land when he already steps into the path of his defenders?

“The landing spot, you have some guys who shoot and go forward,” Warriors forward Andre Iguodala said with a clear reference to Harden. “Some guys fall back and some guys go straight up and down. Me personally, I try not to hurt the guy. That’s the best all I can do.”

The Rockets view things differently, adding spice to a playoff series that is just getting started.

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